Technology Built From Inside
the Industry.

Common Questions

What financial firms ask before engaging.

What IT controls do hedge funds actually need?

At minimum: multi-factor authentication on all systems, endpoint detection and response (EDR) on every device, privileged access management, encrypted data at rest and in transit, documented incident response procedures, and annual third-party risk reviews of all vendor relationships. SEC examination focus has shifted toward evidence — not just having controls, but demonstrating they are tested and maintained on a documented schedule.

How do RIAs prepare for SEC cybersecurity examinations?

Start with a written information security policy aligned to NIST or ISO 27001. Document your risk assessment process annually, not just the output. Maintain evidence of MFA enforcement, patch management cycles, and employee security training completion. The SEC now expects documented incident response procedures that have been tested — tabletop exercises count. Our team has supported programs through multiple examination cycles with no material audit findings in the final 5+ years of tenure.

What is the difference between a Virtual CTO and a managed service provider for financial firms?

An MSP focuses on operational continuity — keeping systems running, responding to tickets, managing patches and backups. A Virtual CTO provides strategic technology leadership: vendor selection, architecture decisions, board reporting, budget governance, and alignment between business objectives and technology investment. Most financial firms need both layers. Chadsel operates at both levels — we maintain the infrastructure and own the strategy.

Can Chadsel support hybrid cloud environments with on-premise infrastructure?

Yes. Most financial firm environments are hybrid — some workloads in Azure or AWS, some on-premise or co-located for latency or compliance reasons. We design and operate hybrid architectures with appropriate security boundaries, data sovereignty controls, and DR/BC testing. Our cloud migrations have delivered up to 40% infrastructure cost reduction without compromising uptime or compliance posture.

How does Chadsel approach SEC and FCA dual-jurisdiction compliance?

Dual-jurisdiction compliance requires mapping control frameworks to both regulatory environments simultaneously. We build programs anchored to NIST CSF, then layer SEC Regulation S-P requirements and FCA SYSC obligations on top. Data residency, cross-border data transfer controls, and documentation practices differ between the two jurisdictions — we have direct operational experience managing these requirements across New York and London offices.

What does engagement look like for a new financial services client?

It starts with a discovery call to understand your environment, then a written assessment covering risks ranked by severity, quick wins, and a roadmap scoped to your priorities. Engagements are structured as fixed-fee projects or monthly retainers — no surprise hourly bills. You work directly with the principal, not a tier-1 help desk. Most clients start with a cybersecurity assessment or infrastructure review.